Re-release Info.

2008: Chronicles is re-released on the Playstation Network ("PSOne Classics"), available as a download for play on both the PS3 and the PSP

Manual Story Description

Transylvania - a small, peaceful country in the heart of medieval Europe.

The people of Transylvania whisper the legend of Dracula to their children at bedtime, only half-believing it to be true. "The forces of good keep a watchful eye over the land, protecting all who live here. But even during the constant vigil, the forces of evil manage to prevail once every century. Each time this happens, human beings with evil hearts begin to chant unspeakable prayers. This is Dracula, the Prince of Darkness, resurrected upon the face of the Earth. And each time he is manifested, his powers grow stronger." Once, long ago, Dracula was indeed revived in this manner. However, his ambitions to plunge the world into darkness and build a kingdom of evil were crushed by the hero Christopher Belmont.

Following Dracula's demise at the hands of Christopher Belmont, the Transylvanian countryside slept peacefully for 100 years. Then one Easter night, the townspeople were celebrating the joyous holiday with a splendid carnival. But, in the ruins of the old monastery on the edge of town, the followers of darkness were holding a Black Mass to revive the evil Count and give him eternal life. They poured a sacrifice of human blood over his remains. As they did so, an ominous thundercloud enveloped the town. Suddenly, a single bolt of lightning pierced the monastery. In that instant, Dracula, the Prince of Darkness, returned to this world to begin a new reign of terror.

But all was not lost. The successor to the Belmont family bloodline, a young man by the name of Simon, was determined to rid the land of this terrible evil. Taking the mysterious whip left to him by his father, he ventured into Dracula's castle to face the Count - alone.

Objective/Overview

In addition to its GBA exploits, the team at KCET, and Koji Igarashi specifically, was eager to bring the Japan-exclusive titles out of the vaults and introduce them to the fans that may have missed the titles' original campaigns. It starts with Castlevania Chronicles, which is a remake and repackaging of Akumajou Dracula X68000, a game originally released for the Sharp X68000 computer system back in 1993.

Chronicles has available two modes: (1) The Regular Mode, which contains the actual X68000 game ported perfectly, with the same intro and ending sequences, the same character and level graphics, and such. And (2), as its main draw, there's the Arranged Mode, which is the superficial remake featuring spiced-up ending and intro sequences, updated sprite designs for Simon Belmont and Dracula, and some new graphical effects, and a few minor changes in terms of candelabra placement. It's also the proverbial "easy mode" (at least for the first five levels), whereas the original game is more difficult throughout. The objective, in either mode, remains the same: You must guide Simon Belmont through eight stages of horror, in classic series fashion, to reach the castle keep, where Count Dracula awaits for a duel to the death.

As a bonus, Chronicles has its own art gallery that you can unlock by clearing stages in either mode, and it includes work from Akumajou Dracula X68000 and KCET's previous Symphony of the Night. Also included on the CD is an interview with the game's director, Koji Igarashi, who hints as to what the next remake could be.

Japanese/European Differences

This is the first of the Japanese games to recognize the Americanized title "Castlevania," and in kind, the Japanese version for this purpose has added to it the subtitle of "Akumajou Dracula X68000." It has no mechanical, musical or graphical changes--there's only the ever-present "Belmondo" name deviation.

Though, the Japanese version does not contain the art gallery that you would otherwise unlock and stock by completing stages.

Soundtrack and Credits

Soundtrack
Opening and Ending Themes: 1 - Black Mass | 2 - Something Loopy | 3 - The Bathead | 4 - Mother Earth
Stage Themes: 1 - Vampire Killer | 2 - Thrashard in the Cave | 3 - Wicked Child | 4 - Bloody Tears | 5 - Tower of Gears | 6 - Moon Fight | 7 - Tower of Dolls | 8 - Etude for the Killer | 9 - Theme of Simon
Battle Themes: 1 - Creatures of the Depth | 2 - You Goddamned Bathead
Miscellaneous Themes: 1 - Stage Clear | 2 - Last Stage Clear | 3 - Player Miss | 4 - Game Over

Links
Music Files: MP3 and MIDI
Soundtrack Release: Official Soundtrack, Dracula X Collection and Castlevania Best Music Collections Box
Game Credits: Available

Other Characters

Lesser Enemies: Skeleton, Zombie, Vampire Bat, Fishman, Knight, Medusa Head, Hunchback, Skeledragon, Red Skeleton, Ghost, Eagle, Raven, Leopard, Pillar of Bones, Axe Knight, Mad Frog, Floating Eye, Bone Scimitar, Wall Widow, Water Blob, Gargoyle, Mud Woman, Stain-glass Ghost, Small Toys, Crossbow Knight, Anaconda, Centipod, Zombie Maid, Ice Skeleton, Two-Headed Beast, Spider Skeleton, Mace Knight, Wyrm, Sword Knight and Flame Knight
Bosses: Phantom Bat, Skeleton Dragon, Ice Lord, Medusa, She Wolf, Doppelganger and The Grim Reaper
Dracula Forms: Dracula and Dracula's Ghost
Supporting Cast: Horn-playing Druid

Character Lists

Lesser Enemies | Bosses | Dracula Forms | Supporting Cast